Today the Chronicle comes under fire for its reporting of the Tyne and Wear Metro system - a classic case of shooting the messenger.

We have always championed the system as a key facet in the regeneration of the region. We are proud to have a Metro and see it as a big player in Newcastle-Gateshead's bid to become Capital of Culture 2008.

And we have championed its cause as being the envy of many cities across Britain and indeed Europe.

So Coun Danny Marshall's comments are somewhat surprising.

It was not us who got it wrong over the number of passengers on the Metro extension to Sunderland and the subsequent loss of income.

It wasn't us who made our readers angry by cancelling services and causing delays which Metro operator Nexus itself has said are unacceptable. And it wasn't us left to come up with an action plan to make up a significant shortfall in the budget, which included a controversial rise in concessionary fares. Nexus has always been given the opportunity to have its say in our columns and if they feel our reporting has been unfair they have always been given the right to reply.

As services improve and success is achieved we have been first to shout loudly about it. Coun Marshall should work on a plan to rectify the problems rather than criticising the Chronicle. It is the least he and his colleagues owe the thousands of passengers and the dedicated staff who use and work on the Metro every day. Over to you.